Adjustable hanger for electric drop-lights.



No. 848,167. P-ATENTED MAR. 26, 1907.

A. J. GOWAN. ADJUSTABLE HANGER FOR ELECTRIC DROP LIGHTS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.19,1906.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

WJ'TNESSES" INVENTOR;

fl/ev J 60/1 07 RNE n5 No 848,167. PATENTBD MAR. 26, 190'7.

- A. J. GOWAN.

ADJUSTABLE HANGER FOR ELECTRIC DROP LIGHTS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.19, 19 06. v

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

CZM/Q By UNITED sTA'rEs PATENT OFFICE.

ALLE J. GOWAN, or NORWICH, ONTARIO, CANADA.

ADJUSTABLE HANGER FOR ELECTRIC oRoP-LieHTs.

To all whom, it may concern:

Norwich, in the county of Oxford, Province of Ontario, ,(lanada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Hangers for Electric Drop-Lights, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to devise an adjustable hanger for electric droplights;-

and it consists, essentially, of a spring-actuated drum on which the lamp cord or cords are wound and which is arranged to convey current from the supply system to the wires of the cords and of a centrifugal gravity-detent whereby the drum may be locked in any de sired position or released to allow the spring towind up the cords, substantially as hereinaftermore specifically described and then definitely claimed.

Figure 1 is afront elevation of my improved hanger. Fig. 2 is avertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is side elevation of part of the device, showing the gravity-detent. Fig. 4 is a similar view of the gravity-detent in a differentposition. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the spring. Fig. 6;is an enlarged view of the detent, showing two balls lifted in the deep pockets. Fig. 7 is a plan of the under side of the base.

In the drawings likeletters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

A is the base, which is secured to the ceiling in the ordinary Way. Connected to this porcelain or non-conducting base are two metal brackets B B, connected by fuse-wires S with the connections T. (See Fig. 7.) Between the brackets is journaled a drum comprising a cylindrical body C, of any suitable insulating material, and metal end disks D D. This drum is recessed to receive a flat, spiral spring E,one end of which is secured to the drum and other to a pivot-pin H. This pivotin at its outer end engages a slot in the brac 8t B in such a manner that it is held from rotating. (See F 1.) Theslot is preferably open at the bottom, and the pivot-pin is held therein-by means of the pivoted latch Q, which may be swung aside when it is desired to release the pin. \Vithin the drum is located a centrifugal gravitydetent G of the type hereinafter described. F is a piotpin secured to the other side of the drum U. The pivot-pin F is journaled in the bracket B. The w1res K K of the lampcord are connected, respectively, with the end Specification of Letters Patent... Application filed April 19, 1906. Serial No. 312,637.

Patented March 26, 1907.

disks D D. These end disks are in electrical Be it known that I, ALLEN J. GowAN, of

connection with the pivot-pins F and H, and thus with the brackets B B. The wires L L from the supply system are connected, respectively, with the connections T, as shown. From this construction it follows that the current may flow through the wire L, bracket B, pivot H, end disk D, and wire K to the lamp, returning through the wire K, end disk D, pivot-pin'F, bracket B, and wire L.' Of course the current may pass in the reverse direction, if desired. l v

The gravity-detent hereinbefore referred to is seen in Figs. 3' and 4. Within the end of the drum C is formed a recess, within which is located a casing I, provided with the inwardly-facing ratchet-shaped cam-surfaces J. The pivot-pin H is journaled in the disk D and in the casting I. On this pivot-pin is formed or secured a disk N, the surface of which is preferably undulated. These undulations may take the form of substantially ratchet-shaped teeth oppositely set to the ratchet-shaped cam-surfaces J as shown. 0 are balls, preferably corresponding in number with the cam-surfaces, which may be two or more in number, three being ordinarily preferable. Each end of each cam-surface is provided with a recess P, adapted to receive the balls 0. From this construction it follows that when the drum is rotated by pulling on the cord the balls will offer no resistance to the rotation of the drum. As soon, however, as the downward movement is stopped one of the balls is certain to be in position to engage the. disk and one of the c'amsurfaces, thus holding the drum in eX- actlythe position to which it has been turned' A pull downward on the cord, followed by a sudden release, will cause the balls to enter the pockets P, and each ball will continue to occupy one or the other of two adjacent pockets as long as the drum is in rotation in either direction. The pockets in the larger or rear ends of the cam-surfaces are deeper than the pockets facing them, as two of these deep pockets must hold two of the balls when the drum is rotated forward previous to a release to wind up the cord, as

it is important that they do not drop out till the third ball has had an opportunity to fall into the lowermost of the smaller pockets. (See Fig. 6.) Thus I have succeeded in devising a detent or clutch which will hold the drum in any desired position and which will yet permit of the rotation of the drum in either direction if the proper mode of operation be followed.

This construction above described gives a very sim 1e, neat, and convenient hanger, by means 0 which the height of the lamp may be quickly and accurately adjusted at any time with a minimum of trouble. 1 This hanger is further simple and cheap to manufacture and is not liable to'get out of order. It is preferably covered in with a casing M, which is held to the base by means of the hooks R, pivoted to the casing and adapted to engage eyes on the base.

What I claim as my invention is l. The combination of a stationary vertical disk; a rotatable drum concentric with the disk; a plurality of inwardly-facing camvthe cam-surfaces; and r'ecessesformed at;

each end ofeach cam-surface to receive the balls when thedrum is rotating, substantially as described 3. The combination of a stationary vertical disk; arotatable drum conrentric with the disk; aplurality of inwardly-racing camsurfaces formed therein; balls between the disk and the cam-surfaces; recesses formed at each end of each cam-surface to receive the balls when'the drum is rotatin a spring adapted to rotate the drum in a direction to cause the balls to grip between the cam-sun faces and the disk; and means wound on the drum whereby the latter may be revolved in the reverse direction, substantially as described.

,4. The combination of a stationary vertical disk; a rotatable drum concentric with the disk; a plurality of inwardly-facing camsurfaces formed therein; balls between the disk and the cam-surfaces; and recesses formed at each end of each cam-surface to receive the balls'when the drum is rotating, the recesses at the ends of the cam-surfaces nearest the disk being deeper tangentially than the otherrecesses, substantial]; as described.

5. The combination of a stationary vertical disk, provided with an undulated surface;

a rotatable drum concentric with the disks formed in each end of each of said cam-sur- 'faces, the recesses at the ends of the 'camsurfaces nearest the disk being dee er tangentially than the other recesses; bails alternativelyoccupying the larger and smaller recesses when t e drum is rot-atedm a forward direction and when the movement of the latter is quickly reversedyand a spring adapted to rotate said drum in a reverse direction whereby the balls are normally caused to drop rom their recesses and to grip between the cam-surfaces and the disk, substantially as described.

Norwich, Ontario, April 9, 1906.

ALLEN J. GOWAN.- In presence of- I JOHN ROWE, SAMUEL KnLso. 

